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Soul purpose: Detroit hip hop 2003

As evidenced by everyone from Kem to Slum Village, D12 to Eminem, Detroit is no longer the perennial bridesmaid to New York and LA on the scope of national hip hop. We’re not just talking sales figures and levels of celebrity — we’re talking creativity, inspiration and downright resourcefulness. As Detroit is quickly becoming an international center of renown for myriad strains of hip hop and rap, the city has also proved itself skillful in a way that hides all craft. But, certainly, things are changing.

Each week throughout the summer, we will examine finer points of hip hop in Detroit; a series of comprehensive stories on the underdogs, the coulda-shouldas and those breaking out nationally, with profiles on local labels, producers and artists making it happen. The series starts now with Khary Kimani Turner’s piece on Pajam, a Detroit-based production team that has a hand in the way soul, R&B and rap is heard around the world.